Why Should You Be a Nurse Practitioner in Arizona?

Full Practice Environment

Nurse Practitioners have three levels of practice depending on the state in which they see patients. They are: Restricted Practice, Reduced Practice, and Full Practice.

Restricted and Reduced Practice means that the Nurse Practitioner will either have to participate in a regulated collaborative agreement or be supervised or managed in a team. At least one element of NP practice is limited. The graphic below shows Restricted Practice environments (red), Reduced Practice environments (yellow), and Full Practice environments (green).

Full Practice for a Nurse Practitioner means that:

“State practice and licensure law provides for nurse practitioners to evaluate patients, diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, initiate and manage treatments—including prescribe medications—under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing. This is the model recommended by the Institute of Medicine and National Council of State Boards of Nursing.”

Less than half the states in the US currently allow Nurse Practitioners to have full Practice rights. Arizona is a state that allows NPs to work in a Full Practice environment.

Higher Pay

Most likely because Nurse Practitioners can work in a Full Practice environment, Nurse Practitioners earn a higher wage in Arizona than in many other states throughout the nation.

According to the May 2013 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Practitioners in Arizona and only 11 other states earn an annual mean wage of $97,590 – $111,800. This is the top annual mean income bracket for NPs in the US.

Arizona Volunteer Licensure Bill

In 2014, SB 1379 passed in Arizona. This bill allows Nurse Practitioners from other states or Nurse Practitioners with inactive Arizona licenses to provide services for up to 60 days at free medical clinics throughout the state.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners typically go through over six years of academic and clinical preparation.

How to Get a Nurse Practitioner Job in Arizona

Desert Medical Careers has a high demand for Nurse Practitioners in all specialties. We are typically able to easily place full-time and part-time Nurse Practitioners throughout the Phoenix Metro Area. With over 20 years experience placing healthcare employees throughout the Valley, DMC is an expert at matching the healthcare workers with their ideal work environment. Contact DMC today at (602) 468-6300.